Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Coralline algae disease reduces survival and settlement success of coral planulae in laboratory experiments

Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Disease outbreaks have been involved in the deterioration of coral reefs worldwide and have been particularly striking among crustose coralline algae (CCA). Although CCA represent important cues for coral settlement, the impact of CCA diseases on the survival and settlement of coral planulae is unknown. Exposing coral larvae to healthy, diseased, and recently dead crusts from three important CCA species, we show a negative effect of disease in the inductive CCA species Hydrolithon boergesenii on larval survivorship of Orbicella faveolata and settlement of O. faveolata and Diploria labyrinthiformis on the CCA surface. No effect was found with the less inductive CCA species Neogoniolithon mamillare and Paragoniolithon accretum. Additionally, a majority of planulae that settled on top of diseased H. boergesenii crusts were on healthy rather than diseased/dying tissue. Our experiments suggest that CCA diseases have the potential to reduce the survivorship and settlement of coral planulae on coral reefs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Aeby GS, Work T, Fenner D, Didonato E (2008) Coral and crustose coralline algae disease on the reefs of American Samoa. In: proceedings of the 11th international coral reef symposium, 1:200–204

  • Anderson MJ (2001) A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecol 26:32–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MJ (2004) PERMDISP: a FORTRAN computer program for permutational analysis of multivariate dispersions (for any two-factor ANOVA design) using permutation tests. Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • Anderson MJ (2005) PERMANOVA: a FORTRAN computer program for permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • Aronson RB, Precht WF (2006) Conservation, precaution, and Caribbean reefs. Coral Reefs 25:441–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruno JF, Bertness MD (2001) Habitat modification and facilitation in benthic marine communities. In: Bertness MD, Gaines SD, Hay ME (eds) Marine community ecology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, pp 201–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Doropoulos C, Ward S, Diaz-Pulido G, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Mumby PJ (2012) Ocean acidification reduces coral recruitment by disrupting intimate larval-algal settlement interactions. Ecol Lett 15:338–346

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghirardelli LA (2002) Endolithic microorganisms in live and dead thalli of coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in the Northern Adriatic sea. Acta Geologia Hispanica 37:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau T, Cervino J, Goreau M, Hayes R, Hayes M, Richardson L, Smith G, DeMeyer K, Nagelkerken I, Garzon-Ferrera J, Gil D, Garrison G, Williams EH, Bunkley-Williams L, Quirolo C, Patterson K, Porter JW, Porter K (1998) Rapid spread of diseases in Caribbean coral reefs. Rev Biol Trop 46:157–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington L, Fabricius K, De’Ath G, Negri A (2004) Recognition and selection of settlement substrata determine post-settlement survival in corals. Ecology 85:3428–3437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann AC, Kristen LM, Chamberland VF, Sandin SA, Vermeij MJA (2013) Large birth size does not reduce negative latent effects of harsh environments across life stages in two coral species. Ecology 94:1966–1976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harvell CD, Kim K, Burkholder JM, Colwell RR, Epstein PR, Grimes DJ, Hofmann EE, Lipp EK, Osterhaus ADME, Overstreet RM, Porter JW, Smith GW, Vasta GR (1999) Emerging marine diseases–climate links and anthropogenic factors. Science 285:1505–1510

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heyward AJ, Negri AP (1999) Natural inducers for coral larval metamorphosis. Coral Reefs 18:273–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TP (1994) Catastrophes, phase shifts, and large-scale degradation of a Caribbean coral reef. Science 265:1547–1551

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson CR, Sutton DC, Olson RR, Giddins R (1991) Settlement of crown-of-thorns starfish: role of bacteria on surfaces of coralline algae and a hypothesis for deepwater. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 71:143–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuffner IB, Walters LJ, Becerro MA, Paul VJ, Ritson-Williams R, Beach KS (2006) Inhibition of coral recruitment by macroalgae and cyanobacteria. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 323:107–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littler MM, Littler DS (1995) Impact of CLOD pathogen on Pacific coral reefs. Science 267:1356–1360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mason B, Beard M, Miller MW (2011) Coral larvae settle at a higher frequency on red surfaces. Coral Reefs 30:667–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller MW (2014) Post-settlement survivorship in two Caribbean broadcasting corals. Coral Reefs 33:1041–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller MW, Valdivia A, Kramer KL, Mason B, Williams DE, Johnston L (2009) Alternate benthic assemblages on reef restoration structures and cascading effects on coral settlement. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 387:147–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller IR, Logan M, Johns KA, Jonker MJ, Osborne K, Sweatman HPA (2013) Determining background levels and defining outbreaks of crustose coralline algae disease on the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Freshw Res 64:1022–1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DE, Morse ANC (1991) Enzymatic characterization of the morphogen recognized by Agaricia humilis (scleractinian coral) larvae. Biol Bull 181:104–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DE, Hooker N, Morse ANC, Jensen RJ (1988) Control of larval metamorphosis and recruitment in sympatric agariciid corals. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 116:193–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse DE, Morse A, Raimondi PT, Hooker N (1994) Morphogen-based chemical flypaper for Agaricia humilis coral larvae. Biol Bull 186:172–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muller E, Vermeij MJA (2011) Day time spawning of a Caribbean coral. Coral Reefs 30:1147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negri AP, Webster NS, Hill RT, Heyward AJ (2001) Metamorphosis of broadcast spawning corals in response to bacteria isolated from crustose algae. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 223:121–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen K, Ritson-Williams R, Paul V, Ross C (2014) Combined effects of macroalgal presence and elevated temperature on the early life-history stages of a common Caribbean coral. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 509:181–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantos O, Cooney RP, Le Tissier MDA, Barer MR, O’Donnell AG, Bythell JC (2003) The bacterial ecology of a plague-like disease affecting the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis. Environ Microbiol 5:370–382

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paul V, Kuffner I, Walters L, Ritson-Williams R, Beach K, Becerro M (2011) Chemically mediated interactions between macroalgae Dictyota spp. and multiple life-history stages of the coral Porites astreoides. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 426:161–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quéré G, Steneck RS, Nugues MM (2015) Spatiotemporal and species-specific patterns of diseases affecting crustose coralline algae in Curaçao. Coral Reefs 34:259–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2013) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritson-Williams R, Paul V, Arnold S, Steneck R (2010) Larval settlement preferences and post-settlement survival of the threatened Caribbean corals Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis. Coral Reefs 29:71–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritson-Williams R, Arnold SN, Paul VJ, Steneck RS (2014) Larval settlement preferences of Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata in response to diverse red algae. Coral Reefs 33:59–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritson-Williams R, Arnold S, Fogarty N, Steneck R, Vermeij M, Paul VJ (2009) New perspectives on ecological mechanisms affecting coral recruitment on reefs. Smithson Contrib Mar Sci 38:437–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunagawa S, DeSantis TZ, Piceno YM, Brodie EL, DeSalvo MK, Voolstra CR, Weil E, Andersen GL, Medina M (2009) Bacterial diversity and White Plague Disease-associated community changes in the Caribbean coral Montastraea faveolata. ISME J 3:512–521

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland KP, Porter JW, Torres C (2004) Disease and immunity in Caribbean and Indo-Pacific zooxanthellate corals. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 266:273–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki Y, Takabayashi T, Kawaguchi T, Matsunaga K (1998) Isolation of an allelopathic substance from the crustose coralline algae, Lithophyllum spp., and its effect on the brown alga, Laminaria religiosa Miyabe (Phaeophyta). J Exp Mar Bio Ecol 225:69–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tribollet A, Payri C (2001) Bioerosion of the coralline alga Hydrolithon onkodes by microborers in the coral reefs of Moorea, French Polynesia. Oceanol Acta 24:329–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tribollet A, Aeby G, Work T (2011) Survey and determination of coral and coralline algae diseases/lesions in the lagoon of New Caledonia. Scientific Report. COMPONENT 3D-Project 3D3 Studies of coral diseases in New Caledonia, CRISP, New Caledonia

  • Vargas-Ángel B (2010) Crustose coralline algal diseases in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. Coral Reefs 29:943–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeij MJA, Sandin SA (2008) Density-dependent settlement and mortality structure the earliest life phases of a coral population. Ecology 89:1994–2004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeij MJA, Fogarty ND, Miller MW (2006) Pelagic conditions affect larval behavior, survival, and settlement patterns in the Caribbean coral Montastraea faveolata. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 310:119–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeij MJA, Smith JE, Smith CM, Vega Thurber R, Sandin SA (2009) Survival and settlement success of coral planulae: independent and synergistic effects of macroalgae and microbes. Oecologia 159:325–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webster NS, Xavier JR, Freckelton M, Motti CA, Cobb R (2008) Shifts in microbial and chemical patterns within the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba during a disease outbreak. Environ Microbiol 10:3366–3376

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webster NS, Smith LD, Heyward AJ, Watts JEM, Webb RI, Blackall LL, Negri AP (2004) Metamorphosis of a scleractinian coral in response to microbial biofilms. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:1213–1221

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams GJ, Price NN, Ushijima B, Aeby GS, Callahan S, Davy SK, Gove JM, Johnson MD, Knapp IS, Shore-Maggio A, Smith JE, Videau P, Work TM (2014) Ocean warming and acidification have complex interactive effects on the dynamics of a marine fungal disease. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 281:20133069

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union 7th Framework programme (P7/2007-2013) under Grant agreement No. 244161. MMN acknowledges support for the CNRS Chaire d’Excellence. We wish to thank the Carmabi foundation and staff for logistic support. We are grateful to M. Vermeij for providing the coral larvae and for useful discussions and to R. Longhitano and G. Fenwick for their help in the field. We additionally thank two anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaëlle Quéré.

Additional information

Communicated by Biology Editor Prof Brian Helmuth

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 41 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Quéré, G., Nugues, M.M. Coralline algae disease reduces survival and settlement success of coral planulae in laboratory experiments. Coral Reefs 34, 863–870 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-015-1292-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-015-1292-0

Keywords

Navigation